Muth motioned for a vote of no confidence. The motion passed, with commissioners Ronald A. Terpko and Robert E. Lookingbill voting in favor.

Commissioner Wayne A. Hooper voted with Burns.

"It's gotten too personal," said Hooper on Tuesday. "It's sad that things have to be this way."

The vote of no confidence was evidently sparked by events that occurred in last week's town meeting.

On Feb. 9, Muth, Terpko and Lookingbill voted not to reappoint John Kinnaird to the Planning and Zoning Commission, where he had served as chairman since January 2007. Kinnaird's term was up; he had served on the commission since 2004.

In his comments at the end of the Feb. 9 meeting, Burns called the vote to block Kinnaird an "orchestrated" one.

Muth took issue with Burns's comments on Monday.

"Just last week you did not agree with the board of commissioners," Muth said. "During a lecture to us about that, though, you called it orchestrated. Mayor, we know that you call votes that you do not agree with a coup or orchestrated. What do you call votes that you do agree with?"